County confirms that hiring guards is key to re-opening detention center

After seven months without a detention center in Mineral County, the facility will remain inoperable until officials can find interested applicants to fill the vacant detention officer positions.

During a public meeting Friday, Aug. 9, county officials said they will continue to wait for willing applicants. Deputies currently transport inmates to Sanders County Detention Center and other nearby jails.

In the meantime, the county accounted for the jail’s potential reopening when they planned the budget for the fiscal year in July.

“We’ll have six months of padding and if it opens sooner, we’ll do a budget amendment,” County Commissioner Roman Zylawy said.

This means If the county can find interested applicants the jail will have the budget for at least six months of funding.

Some officials think selling the town of Superior as a desirable place to live could attract more applicants from elsewhere. Many people come to Superior for the hunting and fishing and officials are looking to expand that market.

“I think we’re missing the boat on how to sell this position,” Undersheriff Trollope said.

But Sheriff Boone says he hasn’t received calls from potential applicants in several months.

The detention officer position pays $11.81, but increases to $13.81 after one year, which doesn’t include the added health insurance benefits.

But county officials worry if they increase the detention officer pay, it would create a ripple effect of pay conflicts throughout other departments. Sheriff Boone says detention officers in other parts of Montana make more money than Mineral County’s deputies.

After failed attempts to reopen the jail with a Community, Counseling, and Correctional Services Incorporated (CCCS), nonprofit private corporation, in June, County Attorney Ellen Donohue remains optimistic about a deal with their CEO, Mike Thatcher.

“I feel that he has the potential resources to get in here for a couple months,” Donohue said.

Donohue also hopes to brainstorm ideas with the Montana Department of Corrections and says they have been in contact.

Since the jail’s closure in January, Sheriff Boone has hired more deputies to accommodate the added tasks of inmate transportation.

Zylawy says there are now six deputies and a sheriff on duty instead of four deputies, creating an added law enforcement presence with immediate response.

County Attorney Ellen Donohue reiterated how lucky they were that the Sheriff’s Office had an appropriate number of deputies on duty on Saturday, Aug. 3 when an assault in Superior and a two-fatality vehicle collision occurred simultaneously.

“It’s not lucky, it’s our schedule,” Undersheriff Trollope said.

Although more resources are utilized when deputies are required to transport inmates, the Sheriff’s Office plans for such incidents.

But some residents say they feel less safe without a jail.

“One issue that’s confusing to me is how it’s not an issue of public safety to not have a jail,” Superior resident Diane Magone said.

However, Zylawy argues that people are still going to jail, it just isn’t in Mineral County.

But everyone agrees the county needs the jail reopened.

“I just want really want this jail open,” Donohue says. “It’s a nightmare for so many departments. We are affected terribly. I just don’t see that we’re going to be able to open it anytime soon on our own.”

Mineral County resident Gordon Hendrick, who previously served as the Montana state representative for eight years and the mayor for 12, says people need to brainstorm ideas instead of complaining and find a solution.

“You lose your jail, the hospital, you’re no longer a town,” Hendrick said.